Drafting equipment



Sept. 22, 1964 w. L. MOYER DRAFTING EQUIPMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 3, 1961 m BY I J W United States Patent 3,150,027 DRAFTHNG EQUWMENT Wilmer lL. Mayer, Hinsdale, Ill, assignor to Para-Tone, Incorporated Filed Apr. 3, 1961, Ser. No. 190,113 11 Claims. (Cl. 156-523) This invention relates to drafting equipment, and more particularly to a marking device for applying marking tape to a drawing or the like.

Architects and draftsmen have found it convenient and expeditious to rely on various physical aids for saving time in making drawings such as illustrations, lettering set-ups, and the like. By way of example, in architectural draftsman can save a great deal of time in the preparation of a drawing by using adhesively coated pressure sensitive marking tapes which have been preprinted to represent a wall, sidewalk, hedge row, piping, or the like, rather than laboriously drawing suitable conventions representing these features. Similarly, tapes may be preprinted to represent shading, stiping, cross hatching, often repeated notations, and similar matter. In order to conveniently handle and apply such tapes an applicator is desirable, but tape dispensers as are presently available are not generlly satisfactory. A suitable device for applying marking tape should, of course, be durable and rugged, but it should also be light and easily handled, and it must have the facility for accurately applying the marking tape to the drawing.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a new and improved marking device.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved marking device for accurately applying marking tapes to a drawing surface.

Another object is to provide a marking device for applying marking tapes to a drawing surface, wherein the marking device may handle various widths of tapes.

A further object is to provide such a marking device wherein a plurality of tapes may be simultaneously applied to a drawing.

A still further object is the provision of a marking de vice for applying to a surface one or more marking tapes each coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Still another object is to provide a marking device for attaching a marking ta e to a surface, the marking device urging the tape against the surface as the device is moved across the surface and maintaining the tape in consistent alignment durin the application, with a cutter for severing the tape against a cooperating portion of the device away from the surface to prevent marring the surface and thereby providing a severed end on the unused portion of the tape, and moving the severed end of the tape to a position extending outwardly of the device for easy application to a surface.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connec tion with the accompanying drawings, in w ich:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a marking device embodying a preferred form of the invention, with the device applying a strip of marking tape to a surface;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the marking device attached to a compass arm for applying the marking tape in a circular path;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the marking device in a normal position preparatory to applying the tape to a surface, with parts broken away for more clearly illustrating the construction;

FlGURE 4 is enlarged side elevational View, similar to FIGURE 3, but with the marking device actuated for cutting the tape, with parts broken away for more clearly illustrating the constructions;

3,.l5hfi27 Patented Eaept. 22, 19%4 p we FIGURE 5 is a horizontal section taken generally on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FlGURE 6 is a vertical section taken generally on a line 6-6 of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical section taken generally on a line 7-7 of FIGURE 5, with parts removed for clearer illustration.

While I have shown and shall hereafter describe one embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a marking device for attaching a continuous marking tape to a drawing surface. Holding means are provided for storin a supply of tape for application to the surface by applicator means which urge the tape against the surface as the marking device is moved across the surface. Suitable means are also provided for maintaining the tape in consistent alignment with the applicator means as the tape is being applied to the surface. Cutter means are provided for severing the tape to form a first severed end on the tape applied to the drawing surface and a second severed end on the unused supply of tape. Accuracy in applying the tape to the drawing surface is a major feature of the invention, and to this end index means are provided for indicating at any operative position of the marking device on the drawing surface, the position on the surface which upon actuation of the cutting means, the first severed end will assume. Speed and ease of application are also major features of the invention, and in order to facilitate easier initial attachment of the tape to the drawing surface the marking device is provided with means for extending the second severed end of the tape past the applicator means. The marking device is particularly suited for applying marking tape having one side coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a plurality of tapes may be simultaneously and accurately applied to a surface.

Referring to the drawings, in FIGURE 1 the marking device N is held against a straight edge 11 while applying a pair of marking tapes 12 and 13 to a drawing surface. One, or more than two marking tapes may be simultaneously applied to the drawing surface by the marking device, the precise number of tapes depending on their rspective widths, as will become apparent hereinafter.

With reference to FIGURE 2, a compass arm 14 is conventionally positioned at one end on the drawing surface and the other end is suitably secured in an aperture 15 in the marking device for applying the marking tapes 12 and 13 in a circular path. When used freehand the marking tapes may be easily applied in irregular paths.

As may best be seen in FIGURES 3 and 5 of the illus trated embodiment, the holding or mounting means for retaining a supply of tape is within a hollow housing 1M5 having a cover or enclosure 16a lunged thereto. Herein the holding means is in the form of a hub it? extending outwardly from the side wall 18 of a body portion of the housing 16. A belt 19 passes through the body side wall 18 and is threadedly received in a hole in the center of hub 17 to secure the hub to the housing. A roll of tape 12 abuts the other side of tape roll l3. Rolls of marking tapes 12 and 13 have cores received on the hub 3?, and herein the hub has a frusto-conical surface 21 converging toward the body side wall for urging tape rolls against each other and the inner tape roll 13 against ribs 28 extending slightly outwardly from the body side wall 18.

Free ends of tapes 12 and 13 are led out. of the housing 16 through an opening in an ed e 2.2 of the housing 'verse to the axis of rotation of pressure roller 23.

and past the applicator means, which is here in the form of a pressure roller 23, for easy attachment of the tapes to a drawing surface. Pressure roller 23 is referably cylindrical and is rotatably mounted on a shaft 23a which is herein a bolt passing through opposed forks formed integrally with the housing body. Uncoated sides of the tapes 12 and 13 run across the cylindrical surface of pressure roller 23 as the marking device lid is drawn sure roller 23 by the free end of a first lever arm 26 of a lever member 27. Lever member 2'?" is pivotally mounted by a pin 28 secured to the body side wall 18 for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the body side wall.

First lever arm 2t? is generally parallel to the body side Wall 18 but its free end is inclined inwardly toward the body side wall. As may best be seen in FlGURE 7 idler roller 25 is pivotally mounted on a shaft normal to, and secured to the free end of the first lever as. Thus the axis of rotation of the idler roller 25 is slightly trans- Adhesively coated sides of the tapes 12 and 13 ride across the cylindrical surface of idler roller 25, and because of the inclination of the idler roller, as it rotates the tape 13 is moved into engagement with an abutment formed by the adjacent side of the first lever 26 and the tape 12 is maintained in edge abutting relationship with tape 13. A spiral compression spring 3:; is received between a shoulder which forms the base of a socket in the free end of the idler roller 25, and a on the free "end of idler roller shaft 2-9 for ur g the inner end of the idler roller 25 against the inclined free end of the first lever 26 so that inner tape 13 cannot overhang the end of the roller.

In its normal. position lever 25 rests against a protrusion 34 formed integrally wit' the body side wall Supporting roller 24 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 24a and is in the form of a bolt which also secures a cover plate as to the housing Another bolt do at taches the opposite end of the cover plate to the housing and is threadedly received in a bore in the protrusion 3d. The compass arm receiving aperture 15 passes through the cover plate as, the hub and the body side 'ing the adhesively coated sides of the tapes againstthe By moving the marking device across drawing surface. the drawing surface on the pressure roller 23 and the supporting roller 24-, the tapes 12 and 13 are progressively withdrawn from their respective tape rolls with their adhesively coated surfaces, riding over the idler roller 25, whichis in its normal position as illustrated in FIGURE 3, thereby rotating the idler roller clockwise for urging the tapes l2. and 13 into side abutting relationship with the inner tape 13 in side abutting relationship with the inclined free end of the first lever 26. V 'Cutterrneans are provided for severing the tapes 1?.

a and 13: when desired. lengths of the tapes have been applied to the drawing surface, and for severing the tapes against a cooperating portion of the marking device at a.

'point spaced from the drawing surface to avoid marring the surface, thereby providing first severed or terminal ends on the portion of the tapes on the drawing surface, and second severed ends on the unused portions of the tapes extending from the tape rolls. Herein these means take the form of a cutter blade 38 reciprocally mounted in the housing 16 on a bottom flange 39 which provides the housing edge '22. Blade 38 is retained in the housing by cover plate 36. Guiding of a knife edge 40 of the cutter blade into cutting engagement with the cylindrical surface of pressure roller 23 is provided by the top face of the housing bottom flange 39 and a guide POItiOn 41 on the body side wall protrusion 34. The end of the cutter blade 38 opposite the knife edge 40 has a notch defining an end lug 42 which is pivotally received in an aperture 43 in the free end of a second lever arm 44 of the lever member 27. Means for retaining the blade 38 in a normal retracted position, and the idler roller 25 in its normal position immediately adjacent the pressure roller 23, is here provided by a'spiral tension spring 45 having one end attached to the blade lug 42 and an opposite end attached to a lug 45 extending outwardly from the body side wall 18 toward the cover plate 36.

Means are'pr-ovided for actuating the cutter blade 38 to move the blade from its normal position as shown in FIGURE 3 to a cutting position with the knife edge 4t) engaging the pressure roller 23, and providing spacing or feeding means for moving the idler roller 25 between its normal position as shown in FIGURE 3 and a second position, as shown in FIGURE 4. In the second position the idler roller is farther from the pressure roller 23 than in the normal position to provide lengths of tapes l2 and 13 betweenthe idler roller 25 and the pressure roller 23 greater in the second position than in the normal position so that upon return of the idler roller 25 to the normal position the-second severed ends of "the tapes 12 and 13 extend outwardly from the housing 16 and past the pressure roller 23. In the illustrated embodiment these means take the form of an actuating arm 47 pivotally mounted by the bolt 1% on the body side wall 18 for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to the side wall.

Cooperating means here in the form of a lug-48 on the actuating arm 47 and a lug 4% on the lever member 27, are responsive to pivotal movement of the actuating arm 47 from the position shown in FIGURE 3 to the position shown in FIGURE 4 for pivoting the lever member 27 to move the idler roller to its second position and the cutter blade knife edge 49 to cutting relationship with the pressure roller 23, as illustrated in FIGURE 4. It should be noted that the knife edge 40 moves into engagement with the pressure roller 23 to sever the tapes 12 and 13 when, for all practical purposes, the idler roller 25 is in its second position. Upon releasing the actuating arm 47 the spiral tension spring 45 provides means for returning the cutter blade 38 and the idler roller 25 to their respective normal ,positions as illustrated in FIGURE 3.

As the idler roller 25 moves from its normal position to its second position the roller 25 rotates in a clockwise direction, asiviewed in FIGURES 3 and 4, against the pressure sensitive adhesively coated sides of the tapes 12 and 13. Tapes 12 and 13 are firmly held by the pressure roller 23 against the drawing surface. As the idler roller returns from the second. position to its normal position it is restrained against rotation in a counterclockwisedirection by the spiral spring 30, shown in FIGURE 7, and more particularly by the free ends of the spiral spring 30 which tend to dig into the inner tion the tapes 12 and 13 tend to remain fixed to the nonrotating roller 25 and tape is withdrawn from the tape arenas? rolls as the second severed ends of the tapes are projected past the pressure roller 23.

As the cutter blade 38 returns from its cutting position to the normal position the adhesively coated faces of the tapes 12 and 13 may be inclined to adhere to the blade knife edge- 40 and be drawn toward the guide 41. They could eventually build up a sufficient deposit of adhesive on the guide that the tapes would tend to adhere to the guide rather than moving outwardly past the pressure roller 23. Means are therefore provided for preventing adherence of the adhesively coated faces of the tapes 12 and 1.3 to the guide 41 as the tapes move outwardly of the marking device. Herein these means comprise a felt pad 50 secured to the top face of the guide 41. The felt pad is impregnated with a suitable lubricant, such as a grease, which prevents adherence of the adhesive to the pad. Should the free ends of the tapes engage the pad as they move outwardly of the housing to the position shown in FIGURE 3, the engagement would be so light and for such a short span of time that sufficient lubricant to substantially effect the adhering qualities of the tapes would not be deposited thereon.

Since accuracy in applying the tapes to the drawing surface is an important consideration, the terminal end of the tapes 12 and- 13 must be accurately positioned on the drawing surface. Since the tapes are severed at a point spaced from the drawing surface in order to avoid marring the surface, an index mark 51 is provided on the exterior of the body side wall 18 for indicating at any operating position of the marking device on the drawing surface the position on the surface, which upon movement of arm 47 by depressing knob 52 to operate the cutter blade 38 to its cutting position in engagement with the pressure roller 23, the terminal ends of the tapes 12' and 13 previously applied to the drawing surface, will assume on the drawing surface.

I claim:

1. A marking device for attaching a continuous marking tape to a surface from a roll of tape, comprising: mounting means fixed relative to said device for rotatably mounting said roll thereon; applicator means for urging said tape against said surface as said device is moved across said surface to progressively apply the tape to the surface; means for maintaining said tape in consistent alignment with said applicator means as said tape is applied to said surface; cutter means movable into engagement with a cooperating portion of said device for severing said tape, thereby forming a first severed end on the portion of said tape on said surface and a second severed end on the unused portions of said tape; and means releasably operable for actuating said cutter means to sever said tape and upon release for extending the second severed end of said tape past said applicator means and into a position ready to be applied to a surface.

2. A marking device for attaching a marking tape to a surface, comprising; applicator means for urging said tape against said surface as said device is moved across said surface for progressively applying the tape to the surface; cutter means movable into abutting engagement with said applicator means for severing said tape, thereby forming a severed end on the unused portions of said tape; and means for actuating said cutter means to sever said tape and for extending said severed end past said applicator means and into a position ready to be applied to a surface.

3. A marking device for applying a marking tape to a surface from a roll of tape, comprising: applicator means for urging said tape against said surface; spacing means for holding said tape and movable from a normal position away from said roll to a second position nearer said roll for providing a length of tape between said spacing means and said applicator means greater in said second position than in said normal position; cutter means movable from a normal position to a cutting position for severing said tape; and means for moving said spacing means between said normal and second positions and for moving said cutter means into said cutting position when said spacing means is in said second position, said spacing means movable from said second position to said normal position responsive to return of said moving means from said cutting position to said normal position for extending said length of tape partially beyond applicator means preparatory to subsequent use.

4. A marking device for applying a continuous marking tape to a surface from a roll of tape, comprising: a housing for containing said roll and having means permitting only rotation of said roll relative to said housing; applicator means for urging said tape against said surface; spacing means for holding said tape and maintaining said tape in consistent alignment with said applicator means as said tape is applied to said surface, and movable in a direction away from said applicator means from a normal position to a second position for providing a length of tape between said spacing means and said applicator means greater in said second position than in said normal position; cutter means movable from a normal position to a cutting position adjacent said applicator means for severing a portion of said tape spaced from said surface thereby forming a severed end on the unused portion of said tape; means for moving said spacing means between said normal and second positions and for moving said cutter means into said cutting position when said spacing means is in said second position; and means for returning said cutter means from said cutting position to said normal position, and said spacing means from said second position to said normal position, whereby said severed end of said tape is fed past said applicator means for application to a surface.

5. A marking device for applying a marking tape to a surface, comprising: means including an applicator member for positioning said tape on said surface; cutter means for severing a portion of said tape spaced from said surface, said cutter means comprising a blade movable between a normal position and a cutting position engaging said applicator member thereby forming a severed end on the unused portion of said tape; means comprising an idler roller for maintaining said tape in con sistent alignment with said applicator member as said tape is being positioned on said surface, means mounting said idier roller for movement between a normal position and a second position to provide a length of tape between said idler roller and said applicator member greater in said second position than in said normal position; means permitting rotation of said idler roller in only one sense reiative to said device and means for moving said idler roller between said normal position and said second position and for moving said blade into said cutting position when said idler roller is in said second position, whereby after said tape is; severed and as said idler roller returns to said normal position said severed end is fed past said applicator member for engaging a surface.

6. A marking device for attaching an adhesively coated side of a continuous marking tape to a surface, comprising: a thin hollow housing; holding means in said housing for retaining a supply of said tape therein; means comprising a pressure roller extending outwardly from said housing for pressing the adhesively coated side of said tape against said surface; means comprising an idler roller for receiving the adhesively coated side of said tape between said holding means and said pressure roller and for maintaining said tape in consistent alignment with said pressure roller as said tape is being withdrawn from the supply of tape and applied to said surface; means comprising a blade movable between a normal position and a cutting position engaging said pressure roller for severing a portion of said tape spaced from said surface and forming a severed end on the supply of tape; means for moving said idler roller between a normal position and a second position farther from said pressure roller than in said normal position to provide a length of tape between said idler roller and said pressure roller greater in said second position than in said normal position, and for moving said blade into said cutting position when said idler roller is in said second position, whereby after said tape is cut and said idler has returned to said normal position said severed end is fed past said pressure roller for again engaging a surface.

7. A marking device for holding rolls of marking tape each having a side coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and for attaching the adhesively coated sides to a surface, said marking device comprising: a thin hollow housing having an edge adapted to be positioned adjacent said surface, said housing comprising a body having a side wall; a closure hinged to said body and having a side wall normally parallel to said body side wall, and flanges extending from the closure side wall and engaging said body side wall and spacing said closure side wall from said body side wall when said housing is closed, thereby defining a chamber for containing rolls of tape; a hub on said body side wall for receiving cores of said tape rolls, said hub having a frusto-conical surface diverging outwardly from said body side wall to immediately adjacent said closure side wall for retaining said tape rolls on said hub in abutting relationship and adjacent said body side wall; a pressure roller extending outwardly from said housing edge for receiving said tapes and pressing the adhesively coated sides of said tapes against said surface; a cutting blade reciprocably mounted in said housing for movement from a retracted position spaced from said pressure roller into a cutting position engaging said pressure roller; a lever member mounted on said body side wall for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to said side wall; a first lever arm on said lever member, said first lever arm being parallel to said side wall and having an end between said hub and said pressure roller, said end being inclined toward said body side wall; a cylindrical idler roller for receiving the adhesively coated side of said tape, said idler roller being rotatably mounted on the inclined end of said first lever arm about an axis generally normal to said inclined end and urging said tapes into abutting relationship with the tape adjacent said first lever arm in abutting relationship therewith; a second lever arm on said lever member, said second lever arm being connected with said cutting blade for reciprocating said blade between said retracted and cutting positions; an actuating arm having an end mounted on said side wall for pivotal movement in a plane parallel to said body side wall, said actuating arm having an opposite end extending outwardly from said housing for manually pivoting said actuating arm; resilient means for urging said lever member and said actuating arm to normal positions with said cylindrical roller adjacent said pressure roller and said cutting blade in said retracted position; and means comprising cooperating portions of said actuating arm and said lever member and responsive to manual movement of said actuating arm for moving said lever member from said normal position to a position in which said cylindrical roller is moved toward said hub and away from said pressure roller and said cutting blade is moved to the cutting position.

8. A marking device for holding a roll of marking tape having a center of rotation and for applying the marking tape to a surface, comprising: applicator means including a roller rotatable about a first axis for receiving and urging said tape against said surface; and feeding means pivotally attached to said device about a second axis spaced from said center, said last mentioned means including another roller rotatable about a third axis transverse to the first axis and spaced from said second axis for receiving said tape and maintaining said tape in consistent alignment with said applicator means as said tape is applied to said surface, said other roller movable between said applicator means and said roll to facilitate feeding of the tape.

9. A marking device for applying marking tape having an adhesive side to a surface, comprising: applicator means including a cylindrical roller rotatable about an axis for receiving said adhesive side and urging said tape against said surface; and pivotally mounting means for feeding said tape and including an abutment and another cylindrical roller having an end adjacent said abutment and rotatable about an axis slightly transverse to the first said axis for receiving the adhesive side of said tape and urging said tape against said abutment to maintain said tape in consistent alignment with said applicator means as said tape is applied to said surface, said pivotally mounted means including restraining means for permitting rotation of said roller in only one direction thereby facilitating feeding of said tape to the applicator means preparatory to a subsequent use of said device.

10. The marking device of claim 1, and index means for indicating at any operative position of said device on said surface the position on said surface which, upon actuation of said cutting means, said first severed end will assume.

11. A marking device for applying marking tape to a surface and severing it therewith, comprising: a hollow housing having a pair of spaced apart, substantially parallel side walls for receiving and containing a roll of marking tape of any width less than the distance between said side Walls; applicator means for receiving and urging said tape against a surface; and means movable between said roll and said applicator means including a roller for maintaining said tape, regardless of width, in consistent alignment with said applicator means as said tape is applied to said surface, and for feeding a fresh supply of said tape from said roll to said applicator means after said severing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 677,128 Glenzinger June 25, 1901 2,511,856 Kendall June 20, 1950 2,556,443 Renne June 12, 1951 2,582,980 Fritzinger Ian. 22, 1952 2,606,682 Cutter Aug. 12, 1952 2,663,444 Kaplan Dec. 22, 1953 2,904,206 Bertschinger Sept. 15, 1959 2,916,228 Wellington Dec. 8, 1959 2,932,421 Schiefer Apr. 12, 1960 

1. A MARKING DEVICE FOR ATTACHING A CONTINUOUS MARKING TAPE TO A SURFACE FROM A ROLL OF TAPE, COMPRISING: MOUNTING MEANS FIXED RELATIVE TO SAID DEVICE FOR ROTATABLY MOUNTING SAID ROLL THEREON; APPLICATOR MEANS FOR URGING SAID TAPE AGAINST SAID SURFACE AS SAID DEVICE IS MOVED ACROSS SAID SURFACE TO PROGRESSIVELY APPLY THE TAPE TO THE SURFACE; MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID TAPE IN CONSISTENT ALIGNMENT WITH SAID APPLICATOR MEANS AS SAID TAPE IS APPLIED TO SAID SURFACE; CUTTER MEANS MOVALBE INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH A COOPERATING PORTION OF SAID EVICE FOR SEVERING SAID TAPE, THEREBY FORMING A FIRST SEVERED END 